Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (30 November 2019): PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji

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PNG:

The web of corruption and incompetence in a terminally ill health system. Kase was asked about logistics, pharmaceutical standards and the contract bidding process that the committee has come to find is riddled with corruption and ‘insider trading’.  

https://emtv.com.pg/the-web-of-corruption-incompetence-in-a-terminally-ill-health-system/    

Australia’s $440m loan to PNG ‘completely unrelated’ to countering China, Finance Minister says. The $440 million loan will be used at the Marape Government’s discretion, something Australia has not permitted in nearly two decades given PNG’s history of chronic corruption.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-25/australia-440-million-loan-to-png-completely-unrelated-to-china/11734146

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Corruption is our dilemma. It has become our common culture to accept and live with corruption and other acts of injustice say Governor General His Excellency Sir David Vonage

https://www.sibconline.com.sb/35092-2/

Varley says strong system needed to fight corruption. Outgoing Police Commissioner Matthew Varley thinks that the solution for fighting corruption in Solomon Islands is having strong rules, procedures and system of good governance.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/22310-varley-says-strong-system-needed-to-fight-corruption  

 

FIJI:

Former Ministry of Agriculture employee charged. It is alleged that while employed by the Ministry of Agriculture in Nadi in 2016, she obtained a total of $1,800.00 from an individual by claiming to arrange for the drilling of a borehole and the supply of poultry manure for the individual’s farm.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/11/25/former-agriculture-assistant-granted-bail-for-corruption/

Trio Deny Alleged Bribery Charges. Former Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) Structural Design Engineer Roneet Prakash, who faces one count of bribery, denied receiving a sink and vanity bench from the director of Hi-Tech Engineering Works Ltd.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/11/23/trio-deny-alleged-bribery-charges/

Cargo agent facing corruption charges bailed. It is alleged that between 1st to the 25th November in Suva, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse Prasad solicited an advantage of $500 from Narsey’s Plastic Limited.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/court/cargo-agent-facing-corruption-charges-bailed/

 

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

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